So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas’s life.

Positive: Cas, his mother, and his whole Scooby gang. Until moving to Thunder Bay (a Canadian location!), Cas never really settled in long enough to make friends with anyone. But, as he investigates Anna and her story, he starts to gather an unusual group around him, people who eventually help him with his Anna dilemma. I particularly like Thomas, who can read minds (sometimes) and Thomas’s eccentric grandfather.

Positive: The ghosts. Anna, of course, is the scene-stealer. I mean, who can resist a story about a murdered girl who floats around in a blood-soaked, white dress, killing anyone who intrudes upon her solitude? It’s the perfect scary campfire story. As for the other ghosts, I liked the urban legend flavor to them (I’ve always been a sucker for urban legends.).

Positive: The story itself. While a lot of times, I focus on favorite bits, with this book, I love the whole thing. Great characters, an interesting world filled with spirits and magic, an action-filled plot, a nontraditional love story (as in it doesn’t involve the main character), and awesome world-building — yep, the whole kit-and-caboodle really drew me in.

Wish: That there were more spooky ghost stories out there like ANNA. It’s not too horror-filled (I get a little freaked out when it’s too scary) but also not cheesy. Anna’s very creepy but I also really felt for her (you’ll understand, if you read the book).

Overall: Oh, holy cow. I love this book. Love-love-love! More like this one, please. This book hits all the right notes, playing on our fear of things that go bump in the night. ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD is now shelved under “2011 Faves” and I’ll definitely be buying an extra copy or two to share with my students.

Great review! This is one I’ve really been looking forward to reading. I keep hearing such great things about this that I almost hope I haven’t set my expectations too high for it! Can’t wait to read this myself! Donna @ The Happy Booker

Oh yay! I looooooved this book! I definitely wish there were more stories out there like this as well. Anna is so awesome. I have my fingers crossed that we get to see Anna, Cas and the gang again! Great review!

Yay NetGalley

NetGalley Challenge 2015

Copyright 2015 The Book Swarm

All blog specific graphics are copyright protected and I do not grant permission for the use of them unless otherwise stated. All content on The Book Swarm is a product of the author (me) unless otherwise stated and may not be copied or reproduced without my permission. Quoting any of my content must be linked back to my respective post.
Skull design and bees created by Parajunkee

Design Credit

Skull design and bees created by Parajunkee

Request a review

Looking for something?

FCC Disclaimer

Statements and opinions expressed in reviews, discussions and posts on this blog are those of The Book Swarm, unless otherwise stated. Some books (ARCs or finished copies) are provided by authors or publishers; others are purchased or borrowed. The source is acknowledged in posts, and the opinions in those posts is totally ours--unbiased and barely edited. Opinions shared by others in comments or guest posts may not reflect our own views, and we reserve the right to moderate this site including comments as we deem necessary.